Oak
Ridge National Laboratory is the nation's leading energy
research and development laboratory. This simple statement
encompasses a wide range of activities and brings to mind
images of coal-fired power plants, nuclear reactors, fusion
devices, and overhead electricity transmission lines. But
as we envision the nation's energy future here at ORNL, we
focus on more than large-scale energy generation and transmission
concerns for the Department of Energy. We also address the
many issues that surround how energy is distributed and ultimately
consumed, as well as how to encourage a more efficient use
of energy.

The
events of recent years have taught us the importance of energy
to the stability of the world's economic and political systems.
The worldwide recession caused by the first oil price shock
of 1973 led to an explosion of new technologies and fostered
new policies that encouraged more efficient energy use. Since
that time, the United States has reduced the economy's energy
intensity by 1 to 2% per year, thereby avoiding imports of
billions of barrels of oil and the release of millions of
metric tons of carbon and other health-threatening pollutants
into the atmosphere. While today there is a lively debate
on the causes and consequences of global climate change,
the reality of climate change is increasingly accepted. This
realization, combined with the recognition that the world
needs ever-increasing supplies of energy to sustain the industrial
economies of the developed world, as well as the rapidly
growing economies of countries such as China and India, has
led to increased attention not only to the problems of energy
supply and demand but also to the need for more energy R&D
worldwide.

Energy
efficiency must be part of any solution to the world's energy
challenge. At ORNL, our energy efficiency R&D draws upon
a science base, with a focus on translating research results
into technology solutions that enable energy resources to
be used more productively. Our R&D is characterized by
a close working relationship with industry, states, and the
Tennessee Valley Authority because, ultimately, if the technologies
are not economically viable, they will not be accepted in
the marketplace. ORNL researchers have been exploring technologies
that would significantly reduce the use of petroleum-based
fuels. Examples of these technologies include lightweight
materials for transportation vehicles, production and storage
of hydrogen, and power electronics for hybrid engines. We
also have generated an equally wide range of innovative products,
such as hybrid solar lighting, highly efficient refrigerators,
low-energy-use houses, and superconducting wire, in addition
to micro-grid systems. Oak Ridge's work for DOE's Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Office
of Electric Transmission and Distribution has led to no less
than 46 of the R&D 100 awards given by R&D Magazine
since 1963 to recognize each year's top 100 innovations.
This issue of the ORNL Review provides a broad overview of
ORNL's contribution to improving energy efficiency, reducing
U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources, and developing
long-term solutions to the world's energy needs.